Download Guide
Role of Physical & Occupational Therapy
The ALS guide to PT and OT was created by the NEALS Physical Therapist/Occupational Therapist Committee. The booklet can be printed and shared by those providing clinical care for people living with ALS. To print the guide, we recommend selecting the "booklet" option. If you have any questions about the guide, please email Katherine Burke at email hidden; JavaScript is required.
Stretching Tips
The following stretching tips were provided by Physical Therapists at Massachusetts General Hospital:
downloadable resources
Bulbar Information
The term “bulbar” refers to the muscles involved in swallowing, speech and communication. Bulbar dysfunction is the result of degeneration of the motor neurons innervating these muscles, leading to impaired speech, swallowing and communication. The downloadable resources below are provided to give guidance about changes in swallowing, speech and communication functions throughout the disease.
Communication Resources
The Boston Children’s Hospital ALS Augmentative Communication Program
The mission of the program is to provide comprehensive augmentative communication and assistive technology assessments, trials and training to people with ALS from the time of diagnosis through the lifespan. The program also offers training videos on particular communication strategies for people with ALS.
ALS UNITED GREATER NEW YORK
There are a lot of devices and strategies that can be utilized to keep communication between PALS and their caregivers clear. This resource page provides a list of products and information that may be helpful.
Communication Support for People with ALS Article
Appropriate timing of referral for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) assessment and intervention is an important clinical decision-making issue.